Movie Review

Be Cool

I love free movies. I saw Be Cool for free, which dampened the pain afterwards. I?m a big fan of the original film, Get Shorty (B+); it was smart, very well acted, and centered around the film business, a subject which usually intrigues me. But the premise this time around appeared to be a cheap rehash on a dumber, more mainstream level (whereas Shorty had an intellectual edge). And this entry is aimed at younger moviegoers, who are usually easier to please than adults. And as a result, I was very questionable that this would be remotely good, and figured it fell into the syndrome of various other sequels ? and the movie met my expectations. Be Cool has moments, but not enough, and it has way too much dead space that makes it feel like three hours.

Chili Palmer (John Travolta) wants out of the movie business and wants to switch gears and go into the music industry. In doing so, he meets a young singer (Christina Milian) in Hollywood who he feels has potential, and through the widow of a music executive (Uma Thurman), Chili has his chance to make her a big star. Vince Vaughn plays the singer?s agent and is a wannabe hoodlum in her nightclub, while The Rock plays his gay bodyguard who also has dreams of becoming a professional actor. Cedric the Entertainer and Andre Benjamin (otherwise known as Andre 3000) play rap moguls.

Be Cool tries to play by similar rules as Get Shorty, but the movie has two problems that restrict a smooth transaction: the script, and director F. Gary Gray. Get Shorty was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, known for Men in Black (B), and in Get Shorty and MIB he had a solid sensibility of comic timing, style/pacing, and casting. There?s a good cast here in the main roles, but the supporting actors (specifically the mob characters) look so artificial in their roles that it?s nearly impossible to believe them. Their make-up is awful, as they have been given the most stereotypical look you could ask for.

Gray?s dilemma with pacing ties in with the inconsequential script, as the combination makes for a big bore. He tries to give the flick a hip beat at times, but it isn?t nearly hip enough, and the script sucks. John Travolta and Uma Thurman are given very little to work with, as it is obvious they were cast for marketing purposes, and there are scenes with them that are pointless (including a really long dance sequence that seems to be a nod to Pulp Fiction). At times Be Cool also tries to be a drama, but it isn?t funny enough for an even balance; it ends up being a very awkward mix. The dramatic turns also come out of nowhere and aren?t built up enough in order to care.

In Get Shorty, each of the actors had their moments to shine; and in Be Cool, very few do. Travolta only has a few comedic lines that work, Thurman is there simply as a presence, Danny DeVito has a brief walk-on part that is flat and pointless, Vince Vaughn only works well in spurts (if you're a fan of his already), whereas Cedric the Entertainer has bits that are surprisingly amusing. The Rock ends up being the highlight of the show and he has all of 10 - 15 minutes of screen time ? he ruled the room at this screening, and even induced a light applause at one point (with the monologue). He has a very cool ability to make fun of himself, and as a result he has the movie's funniest moments.

I enjoyed Ocean?s 12 (B) even though the story was very loose, and perhaps inconsequential, in comparison to Ocean?s 11 (B+). I liked what director Steven Soderbergh did via the style and pacing, and I enjoyed the cast?s charisma, which allowed me to move on from its deficiencies. Some people really didn?t like the second installment because it was flashy and hollow, and I think the reaction to Be Cool will be similarly split down the middle.

It was apparent that this sequel was likely to hit the fan even at the greenlight stage. Peter Steinfeld, writer of the sequel, Analyze That (C+), as well as Drowning Mona, was hired for this feature. Be Cool and Analyze That are rather similar in that they?re missing most of the ingredients of the original entry: the story no longer matters, the cast just floats on by, and the director treats the material too lightly, making both of the movies knock-off pieces.

It?s not like sequels have a great reputation, as very few live up to the status of their original. But when you have a cast like this, there?s more fun to be had compared to many other flicks out there, and the talents behind the scenes have drained away a lot of its potential. Actors involved who aren?t producers of the film don?t have much say, but you would think some actors would raise a question when the material could be better. And if someone had done that ? even though the wrong screenwriter got the job to begin with ? perhaps Be Cool might have been the rare sequel that was (at least) reasonable.

Lee's Grade: C+
Ranked #66 of 122 between Anchorman 2 (#65) and The Other Guys (#67) for 2005 movies.

A	0.4%
B	30.0%
C	61.7%
D	8.0%
F	0.0%